Points sealed by late goals

Two late goals clinched victory for Maidstone ladies in their East Premier game at Bedford on Saturday.

They took the lead inside 10 minutes when captain Hannah Durston hit a bouncing reverse volley into the goal from a short-corner rebound.

Maidstone continued to look strong for the rest of the half, stringing clean passes together and building from the back but there were no further goals before the break despite at least six short corners.

The second half started with the same intensity as the first but with Bedford showing more strength in attack, Maidstone defended well.

With 10 minutes to go, Maidstone scored their second short-corner goal with a strong slap from Susie Rowe that was helped in by a Bedford defender.

And it was 3-0 a minute from time when player-of-thematch Charlotte Nudd scored an impressive counter-attack goal, pouncing on a mistrapped ball and scrapping with a defender in the circle before finishing.

Maidstone ladies’ 2nds were expecting a tough Kent Premier Division game at BBHC – and so it proved as they lost 2-0.

They stuck to their task to deny BBHC any real chances but conceded from a short corner on 25 minutes. Maidstone came out more determined in the second half and began to build attacks.

They went close from a few short corners but it was game over in the last minute when BBHC scored again. Player-of-the-match Amanda Gates produced another fine performance in defence for Maidstone.

The ladies’ 4ths were missing their usual defence when they travelled to K Sports 3rds for a friendly. Player-of-the-match Claudia Allsworth-Clarke was phenomenal out of position at the back, goalkeeper Niamh O’Reilly saved a penalty flick and Louisa Coffey and Tracey Murphy Bellchambers put in solid performances in unfamiliar roles to keep it goalless.

But Maidstone tired in the last quarter and goals from Isabelle Matchett, Holly Bernhard, Eric Yeong and Sharna Ambanpola gave K Sports victory as heads dropped.

Maidstone men’s 1sts sit bottom of Kent/Sussex 1 after a 2-0 reverse away to Kings & Alleyns. They’ve picked up just one point from their first four games.